The Extension Community Assessment was developed by a committee of Extension Agents, Specialists, Volunteers and key informants. With the assistance of The Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky (CEDIK), Kentucky by the Numbers, Extension Offices across the state, and others, the Kentucky Extension System implemented the assessment. 

Beginning in July 2018, five pilot counties (Boone, Christian, Clark, Madison, and McCracken) began implementation. In September 2018, the rest of the state began the process. The first step was an issues survey, available both online and paper copies. In addition, Extension Agents conducted focus groups and key informant interviews to gain a better, more in-depth understanding of some of the county needs. 

Kentucky by the Numbers prepared secondary data analyses for all counties and CEDIK collected responses from surveys, focus groups and interviews. These two groups prepared reports for all 120 counties that will be publicly available in September 2019. Extension Offices will use these reports to prepare their four-year plans of work in 2020. 

Extension has always been a grassroots organization, collecting information to prepare educational programs that are research-based and relevant. We believe that the Community Assessment Reports will make us even more responsive to emerging county needs.

Thank you to everyone who provided valuable feedback to us through surveys, focus groups or interviews. Our responses to the identified issues will be shared as we move forward into the plan of work development.